Omagh grammar schools abandon transfer tests for 2021 entry

by Q Radio News

Two Catholic Grammar Schools in Omagh have become the latest to announce they won't be using transfer tests this Autumn to select pupils for 2021. 

Loreto and the Christian Brothers issued a joint statement, saying the decision was taken in "light of the unique circumstances presented by the impact of covid-19". 

The county Tyrone schools normally use the outcomes from the GL Entrance Assessment as part of their admissions criteria, which is run by the PPTC or Post Primary Transfer Consortium.

Below is the joint statement from Loreto Grammar School and the Christian Brothers Grammar School. 

West Tyrone MLA Catherine Kelly welcomed the decision by the two county Tyrone schools to suspend academic selection transfer tests for the upcoming school year. 

She said, ''I welcome and commend the decision by Loreto Grammar School Omagh and the Christian Brothers Grammar School Omagh to suspend the use of unregulated tests for this coming academic year and would urge other schools in this area to follow suit.

''This is absolutely necessary to allow our teachers, school staff and of course children to prepare for a return to school, rather than the stress of a high-level exam. 

“Academic selection is wrong, unnecessary and places undue pressure on children. It should be scrapped altogether.”

Meanwhile, two Catholic Grammar Schools in Enniskillen and five in county Down announced previously they wouldn't be using the tests either for 2021. 

Mount Lourdes Grammar and St Michael's College in Enniskillen issued a joint statement to the parents and guardians of local Primary Six pupils earlier, informing them of the decision. 

The move by these two schools follow similar announcements by five Catholic Grammar schools in the Newry and Kilkeel area.

Also, the popular Lagan College in Belfast, which was the first integrated school in Northern Ireland, also revealed that they were also suspending academic testing for 2021 entry.